Blogs from Aegean, Turkey, Middle East - page 12

Had a lovely meal last night – a sea bass big enough for 2 to share. Really well cooked over charcoal. Awoke to a beautiful blue sky & no wind unlike yesterday. Off to the showers – no hot water. We reckon the kitchen had used it all last night & it was too early to be refreshed. I washed Cathy's hair in the outside washing up area which was separate. We passed so many old relics of WW2, bunkers, firing positions etc. We wanted to stop at a memorial but saw it late & a coach was too close behind to brake too hard; we've made a note to go on our return. The town of Gallipoli is huge & not what we were expecting so didn't drive in Off now to catch a ferry ... read more

After ANZAC day the tour continue with us following the standard tour route thought Turkey. Over the next two days we visited a number of ancient roman sites, all UNESCO World Heritage listed sites. Sites we visited included the hill top town of Pergamum with it’s amphitheatre. We also visit the neighbouring Asclepion where Galen the great roman physician hospital was located. The next day we travelled to the legendary Roman city of Ephesus. Originally founded as a Greek city it became the Roman capital of Asia Minor It includes the ruins of the Temple of Artemis - one of the Seven Ancient Wonders. Major sites seen included the Great Theatre once capable of seating 25,000 spectators, Curetes Way, the Temple of Serapis, the façades of the Temple of Hadrian and the awesome Library of Celsus. ... read more

Today was too much travel. We were up at 6 and on the road by 7 ish. We traveled 620 km thrift to Pumakkale. The country side is simply beautiful...but I'm getting a bit sick of being in a bus to be honest. We could have flown here. None the less stopped for a couple meals. Got some gifts for my sister too. Got to the hotel, very relieved it was a nice big bed and a very clean room. The first thing Kaine did in the room was call for the day spa for massages for us both. What a treat. Off to the thermal pools at the Collasse spa hotel (where we stayed) until my 7pm massage. What an interesting massage, she had sharp nails and it was bare all up top. Dinner time ... read more

In Turkey there are more ancient ruins than we can count A long time ago at a history lesson in school I (Ake) heard a lecture about the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. These sites were the most impressive human constructions in Ancient Greece and people travelled from places far away to marvel at the monuments that were erected there. The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (personally I think a better name is The Seven Wonders of the Ancient Greece since the list does not include any construction outside of Ancient Greece) are/were the following: • The Great Pyramid of Giza • Hanging Gardens of Babylon • Temple of Artemis • Statue of Zeus • Mausoleum at Halicarnassus • Colossus of Rhodes • Lighthouse of Alexandria I was fascinated by these wonderful statues and ... read more

Where to start, at the beginning is always a good place, don't you think? We didn't really know what to expect in Turkey, our only reason for going there really was that we had seen different photos that various friends had taken over the years, and everyone had told us that it was a place that we really should visit, so off we went. Our flight to Istanbul left from Stansted, and during check in we were asked " do you have your Turkish Visa"? OMG, I thought, my biggest fear was about to come true. We were not going to be allowed to fly. I always hold my breath until we have the boarding passes in our hands at check in, as I have a fear that one day we will we boldly turn up ... read more